"[A colleague] poetically described this phenomenon as a former suitor 'keeping you in their orbit' — close enough to see each other; far enough to never talk," she explained in a Man Repeller article.

It's enough to make anyone long for the days of pure, clean ghosting.

While there's plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting orbiting is widespread, the intention behind the lurking is a little less clear.

"We all know how devastating a phantom can be, and the orbiting behaviour really rubs salt in the wound," Mel tells 9Honey.

LISTEN: The Life Bites podcast on the importance of boundaries and saying 'no' to people. (Post continues.)

"It's like the person is saying to you, 'I don't want to give you my time and energy and focus, but I'm still curious about you'."

Mel believes orbiting is symptomatic of the "disposable" dating landscape we're fumbling our way through in 2018.

"With dating apps and the hook-up culture, there is a real sense that 'there is always something better out there'," she explains.

Breakups just got even worse, if you can believe it. (Getty)

"When someone orbits you, they are essentially trying to keep their options open, without offering you anything."

Of course, some 'orbiters' mightn't be entirely of what they're doing. For example, as Anna Iovine pointed out, there seems to be a lot of Instagram users who don't realise people can see exactly who has viewed their Story (though the question remains: why lurk?).

However, Mel Schilling doesn't buy it, and doesn't think it's worth giving them the benefit of the doubt.

"I think most people are pretty tech savvy these days and have a good idea about their online behaviour and consequences," she says.

"In many cases, it may be an oversight or laziness in not 'unfollowing' an ex-flame, but that doesn't mean you have to endure their following, liking and commenting. Delete. Block. Move on."